Compare towns
Brunswick vs Exeter vs Gorham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brunswick has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Exeter has the oldest population (median age 45.8).
Gorham has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Brunswick | Exeter | Gorham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,652 |
16,151Lowest |
18,300Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.9±2.2Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 16.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.4%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brunswick and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,722±$5kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,200±$18kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,465±$100Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,680±$355 19% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,477Lowest 44% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #30 of 133 in ME | #22 of 120 in NH | #24 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Gorham Public Schools |
| High school in town | — | Exeter High School | Gorham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Lowest |
12.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.